Well that was extremely underwhelming.
Sadly, I had my hopes up after the last 10 minutes of Out of Time delivered bombshell after bombshell. Even though I knew for a fact that we were headed for a clean slate, there’s no excuse for such a messy, boring and frustrating episode.
The Barry/Iris drama once again made me want to rip my eyes out (a la Fish Mooney from Gotham) because it became so hard to watch (again), especially since Barry decided to use time-travel to win her affection (how inhumane was his breakup with Linda by the way?). It’s not just that it was EXTREMELY predictable that Iris wouldn’t fall for it, it also wasn’t entertaining at all. We all knew a redo was coming this week, but I sure as hell didn’t want more Iris on my screen. This character…boy, I am at a loss of words.
This new timeline, for some ungodly reason, also gave us different villains. I hated how the Weather Wizard storyline was handled off-screen instead of being an integral part of this week’s episode because, after all, where’s the fun in watching a redo when we don’t get to see any parallel to last week’s events? Maybe I had my hopes up too much, but I was certainly expecting a fun hour full of nifty teases instead of an underwhelming return of the Snarts. Lisa Snart in particular was just too comical and came off as cheesy every time she said a word, and while I still find Wentworth Miller admirable in his role as Captain Cold, most of the material he was given here was cringe-worthy.
Perhaps the only worthy scene is when Harrison took Cisco to the “scene of the crime”. The way he told him that he’s like the son he never had was a beautifully haunting parallel to last week’s brutal killing, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t find Tom Cavanagh bone-chilling. He’s such a fascinating villain, especially when he talks to Barry about the ill effects of traveling back in time and changing past events. “What if you traveled back decades? Centuries?” he says, finally giving us fans something to enjoy about this episode.
Speedy Bits
– What is up with Cisco’s extremely unlikable brother? Let’s just say I wouldn’t have cared a bit if he’d died tonight.
– Captain Cold and The Flash’s final face-off was hilarious and amusing (and lame?). Check out their banter in the quotes section below.
– “Lightning Psychosis?” Come on, Caitlin, you can do better that.
– The Golden Glider (Lisa Snart) should have been a much more developed character. Even her weapon (which basically shoots gold) was tacky.
– In case you don’t know this because you live under a rock, Captain Cold, Heat Wave and the Arrow’s Atom are all headed for a spinoff soon. It explains how Barry and Cold came to an agreement by episode’s end.
– Instead of killing Cisco, Wells murdered Bridge who was slowly about to uncover the truth about Simon Stagg’s disappearance. And the Central City Police sure works fast when it wants to: literally five seconds later, Bridge was reported missing.
– Cisco sure made those guns quickly fast, huh?
– I do like that Barry is the one suspicious about Harrison this time.
– It was heartbreaking to see Barry realize that Iris confessed her feelings (the first time) because they were in danger of dying.
Red Blurs & Quotes
Barry: In the…previous version of today, Captain Singh is seriously injured, Joe is in danger and Iris said she had feelings for me. And now Cisco’s life is on the line, and Iris has no idea she confessed those feelings. But she still has them, right?
Harrison: The unconscious mind, Barry…it’s a powerful thing. It sounds like it took this apparent disaster to jar those feelings loose and without a disaster, those feelings remain deeper down.
Harrison [to Cisco]: All you proved today, Mr. Ramon, is that you’re human. All you proved today is that you loved your brother. And the reason that we all want you to stay is that we love you too. Now, I am not a parent, but in many ways you have shown me what it is like to have a son.
(Barry slowly enters)
Caitlin: What, no whoosh-in?
Barry: I needed the walk.
Barry: It needs to end.
Cold: Can’t do that. It’s what I do.
Barry: Then find a new line of work.
Cold: Don’t want to.
Barry: Why is that?
Cold: The same reason you keep running after guys like me. The adrenaline, the thrill of the chase. I love this game. And I’m very good at it.
Barry: They go play it somewhere else, leave Central City.
Cold: Can’t do that either. I love it here.
Conclusion
The show’s first misstep in what could have been a much more interesting follow-up to last week’s multiple cliffhangers. Let’s hope this never happened.
Chris Rating
C+
Couldn't agree more! I found the episode to be boring and useless… glad to see I'm not the only one who thought Cisco built those guns really quickly 😛 The Gold gun didn't make sense to me. Yes I know the show is extremely fictional… but still it didn't make sense. Oh and the way The Flash handled the chase, before the hilarious, amusing and yes lame face off with Cold, was quick, no pun intended.
Completely agree as well. Loved the Fish Mooney reference 😀 I'm dreading that show's return!
Although, I like Peyton List. She's gorgeous (I know her from Mad Men). But yeah what a lame hour, especially that supremely underwhelming climax that only existed to set up the spin off! Let's wipe this ep from memory!
Haha totally dreading that show's return as well :/
I've never seen Mad Men so I don't know the actress that much, but I wish she was given much better material here. She was just soo lame..that gun, man, wtf! But yeah, that climax was incredibly underwhelming, ugh.
Glad you agree too, Malek! Yeah, that gun was useless and stupid. The whole epi was just not the kind of quality The Flash has given us so far, and hope next week's better.
Hahah hilarious pun! But yes, that whole chase in the end was just cringe-worthy.